Benitez blasts Chelsea fans, confirms exit

London

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez's patience with the side's fans finally snapped on Wednesday as he confirmed his intention to leave the club at the end of the season.

Benitez has been targeted by sections of the club's support ever since he was appointed as the successor to Roberto Di Matteo last November.

Chelsea beat Middlesbrough 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals and they are also in the last 16 of the Europa League, but they have slipped to fourth place in the English Premier League.

Benitez was only appointed on a temporary basis but he confirmed in an angry press conference that the abuse he has received from some of Chelsea's fans had prompted him to abandon his ambition to coach the team on a permanent basis.